DOMINANT VICTORY

By Darrell Kent

The Falcons were never headed in a one sided contest at Pentanet Stadium on Saturday. They recorded an eighty-point victory that was enough to put them back on top of the table, percentage in front of East Fremantle and Claremont. West Coast only had two scoring shots in the first three quarters. It isn’t ideal for the competition when the only interest in a game is the margin and not the contest.

West Perth were in control from the first bounce and had seven scoring shots in twelve minutes. They kicked two goals, five. The majors went to Mitch Dobson and Trent Manzone. The Eagles then kicked one through John Levien but the last part of the quarter was the Tyler Keitel show. He kicked three. The first was after he took possession from a boundary throw in, the second from the square and the next when he was on the end of a long Mitch Dobson pass. At the first change the home team led by twenty-nine; 5.5 (35) to 1.0 (6).

The second quarter was little to write home about. The game standard dropped and it was a real slog. The Falcons kicked two goals four for the quarter and the Eagles one major. West Coast hit the scoreboard within the first couple of minutes. It was to be their last score until the eight-minute mark of the last quarter. West Perth controlled the play, but failed to capitalise. A Dean Munns pass hit Tyler Keitel on the chest fifty out. His long kick split the middle for his fourth. The second came at the twenty-minute mark and it went to Anton Hamp who scored from an angle, thirty out. It was the culmination of a good passage of play that began deep in defence. At the main break the lead was thirty-nine: 7.9 (51) to 2.0 (12).

It was all West Perth in the third term. A long Tyler Keitel pass to Shane Nelson twenty out got the goals ticking over at the eight-minute mark. This was after two behinds. Sasha Kernutt then kicked the first of his brace after taking possession forty out. Midway through the term the margin was out to sixty courtesy of a goal that only the dynamic Keegan Knott could kick. He took possession near the boundary, zigged, zagged and snapped from thirty. Keegan is a master at making the difficult look easy. Sasha Kernutt then kicked his second and at the final change the Falcons led by sixty-seven; 11.13 (79) to 2.0 (12).

The last quarter turned into a goal-fest with ten being scored. West Perth kicked the first courtesy of Zac Guadagnin. He finished from thirty after receiving fifty. The players really celebrated this one as it was his second goal in sixty-nine games. The Eagles then had a burst of dominance during which they kicked three in four minutes to reduce the margin to fifty-six. This was short lived, however, because the Falcons replied with four in quick time. Conal Lynch kicked one, Tyler Keitel got his fifth, Sam Rotham got on the score sheet and Keegan Knott registered his second. It was a pleasing response to the Eagles effort. West Coast got another, before Keegan Knott finished the game with his third. This gave West Perth the eighty-point win; 17.17 (119) to 6.3 (39).

It wasn’t a great game to watch, but the Falcons got the job done. Best players were Aidan Lynch, who was a late in for Luke Meadows, Keegan Knott, Zac Guadagnin, Shane Nelson and Tyson Moulton. Another big game, for all grades, next week against Perth. See you at the footy to help get the teams over the line.